Living in Singapore Magazine - February/March 2022

Celebrating

International

The Road Less Traveled Discover little-known Tiraspol, Transnistria

Working From Home?

Find out how to level up your remote work

February/March 2022

Women’s Day

Discover the Difference

DE T U

DO R P UN ONS M

LEARNING BEYOND THE CLASSROOM

Our outdoor and adventurous learning programme helps students develop creativity through exploration, build resilience through challenge and foster environmental, individual and social responsibility.

With over 300 CCAs on offer, there is a wealth of opportunity to extend and challenge students’ learning and development with a diverse range of sports, performing arts and academic enrichment activities on offer.

singapore.dulwich.org admissions.singapore@dulwich.org (65) 6890 1003

An extensive range of Student Leadership opportunities throughout the College helps nurture students to ‘Live Worldwise’ with the skills, leadership experience and values to make a positive contribution to the world.

The House system at Dulwich offers all students a sense of belonging and provides the opportunity to work together to make a positive difference within the school and wider community.

LIVE

Dulwich College (Singapore) CPE Registration Number: 201027137D. Period of Registration: 09 Janurary 2020 to 08 Janurary 2024. School Location: 71 Bukit Batok West Avenue 8, Singapore, 658966

who we are Happy New Year! Gōng Xǐ Fā Cái!

We’ve had a nice break, but we are back and gearing up for a busy start to the year! Our calendar is packed with fun and informative events, and we’re holding our first marquis event of the year. We’re so excited to be holding The TD Ameritrade Ambassador’s Cup Golf Tournament presented by XCL American Academy, in March at the Singapore Island Country Club. This is sure to be a fantastic day, and I hope you can join us.

I am personally looking forward to getting glimpses of old Singapore, when we screen the film Saint Jack, filmed here in the late 1970s and banned here for decades. We’ll enjoy a dinner of Singaporean delights while watching the movie. Parents please note this is not a kid-friendly film!

With International Women’s Day coming up in March, we have several features focusing on women in business. We spoke with Rebecca Bisset, the founder of Expat Living, about her 23 years in Singapore.

We also chatted with several women business owners about how they started their businesses, the challenges they faced along the way, and what advice they have for other women who may want to start a business. There are so many inspiring and talented women here in the Lion City, and we are so fortunate to hear from a few of them!

Finally, Chinese New Year is here, and we’ve got some background on the traditions that go with it, including why we give red packets, or ang pow. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I did!

Editor-in-Chief

Susan Williams

EDITORIAL Editor-in-Chief: Susan Williams communications@aasingapore.com Publishing Editor: Melinda Murphy generalmanager@aasingapore.com LAYOUT Graphic Designer: Susan Williams graphics@aasingapore.com ADVERTISING Advertising Manager: Thila Chandra advertising@aasingapore.com CONTRIBUTORS Ben Augenstein, Faith Chanda, Julian Abraham Chua, Cara D’Avanzo, Elizabeth Garbourg, Blair Hall, John Sarkis Hamalian, Richard L. Hartung, Sara Madera, Melinda Murphy, Theodorus Ng, Lily Ong, Marc Servos, Susan Williams AMERICAN ASSOCIATION BOARD MEMBERS President: Blair Hall Vice President: Michael Johnson Treasurer: Ashok Lalwani Secretary: Michael Murphy Directors-at-Large: Mkulima Britt, Dana Hvide, Naureen Rasul, Jennifer Yarbrough AmCham: Dr. Hsien-Hsien Lei The American Club: Neetu Mirchandani AWA: Linda Schindler SACAC: Jeff Majestic SAS: Kyle Aldous Non-Voting Members US Embassy: Brian Himmelsteib US Navy COMLOG WESTPAC: Rear Admiral Philip Sobeck AAS: Melinda Murphy PUBLISHER – AMERICAN ASSOCIATION The American Association of Singapore (AAS) is a professional, notfor-profit organization established to enhance the well-being and living experience of Americans residing in Singapore and to promote relationships, both business and social, between Americans and those from different cultures and nationalities.

56A Boat Quay, Singapore 049845 • (+65) 8030 6183 admin@aasingapore.com • www.aasingapore.com Living In Singapore magazine will be released six times per year, with the purpose of enhancing the expatriate experience in Singapore.

SUBSCRIPTION

A subscription to Living in Singapore is complementary with an AAS or CareerSource membership. AAS annual family membership is $120. CareerSource membership is $220.

To join, visit www.aasingapore.com and have Living in Singapore magazine delivered to your inbox. Reproduction in any manner, in English or any other language, is prohibited without written permission. Living in Singapore welcomes all contributions of volunteer time or written material.

what’s in...

10 Community News 26 The Origins of Chinese New Year The stories behind the traditions.

30 Women Who Have Made a Difference

Profiles of some founding foremothers of Singapore.

26

32 A True Singapore Expat

An interview with Rebecca Bisset on the 20th anniversary of Expat Living.

50 The Road Less Traveled

Take a trip to little-known Tiraspol.

58 Time for Taxes

Updates you need to know for your US taxes.

30

32 50

58

message from the president

By Blair Hall

Happy Year of the Tiger! 2022 has jumped off to a fast start. Having barely finished the calendar year-end holiday, we’re already preparing our hong bao envelopes and stocking up on mandarin oranges for an auspicious Chinese New Year celebration. AAS certainly is looking forward to a great year, one we all hope will be full of events and community activities less encumbered by COVID-19 considerations. Please check out our full slate of walking tours, charity volunteer events and theater opportunities, including the special screening of Saint Jack, a 1979 movie set in Singapore, considered so scandalous as to be banned here for decades. We’re excited to be able to hold the Ambassador’s Cup Golf Tournament – a tradition since 1935 – on March 11 after a two-year hiatus, a chance for members and non-members to enjoy the magnificent Singapore Island Country Club. This month we proudly launched our rebranded CareerSource program, providing skills development workshops, executive coaching, career counseling and networking opportunities to expat talent living in Singapore. Looking ahead to International Women’s Day in March, this Living in Singapore issue is focusing on women in business, including insightful interviews with women business founders in Singapore and some timely advice on US taxes. Finally, please mark March 29 on your calendars for the Association’s 2022 Annual General Meeting – details to follow but, regulations permitting, we are planning an in-person community event. Slowly, slowly we’re returning to normalcy. We look forward to seeing you soon!

American Community Organizations Directory AAS aasingapore.com

AWA awasingapore.org

SAS sas.edu.sg

The American Club amclub.org.sg

AmCham amcham.com.sg

Navy League nlus-sgp.org

SAIS sais.edu.sg

US Embassy sg.usembassy.gov

American Dragons americandragons.sg

SACAC Sports safl.sacac.com

Scouts BSA Troop 07: www.bsatroop07.org BSA Troop 10: www.sgtroop10.org BSA Troop 1010: sgtroop1010@gmail.com

6 LIVING IN SINGAPORE

Cub Scouts Pack 3010: www.sgpack3010.org Cub Scouts Pack 3017: cubscoutsusa.com.sg USA Girl Scouts: www.singaporeusagirlscouts.org

member benefits College Ready 100% discount on membership. Valid through 3/31/22.

Estheclinic 10% discount for all their treatments. Valid through 12/30/22.

Hard Rock Cafe 15% discount on food and beverage upon showing a screenshot of your membership. Valid through 12/30/22.

Hedgers Carpet Free high-quality underlayment with every purchase at our store (while stocks last). Valid through 12/30/22.

Lawry’s The Prime Rib 15% discount for à la carte food bill for dine-in only.

Blackout dates apply.

Mr. Jeff Free pick up & delivery for Buona Vista/Pasir Panjang area; 20% discount using code AAS20. Valid through 12/30/22.

Marriott AAS members enjoy a 25% discount on F&B. Show a screenshot of your membership.

Motorist 15% off quotes.

2/28/22.

car insurance Valid through

Poke Theory Get a free paid topping with every poke bowl purchased, exclusively at Katong Square #01-12.

Valid through 6/30/22.

The Shanti Residence AAS Members get 15% off room bookings directly.

Solescape AAS members enjoy 15% discount on their purchase of a pair of shoes. Valid through 12/31/22.

The American Club AAS members may order dinner from The American Club.

Scan or click here for our full member benefits page and more details on each benefit.

LIVING IN SINGAPORE 7

American Association Sister Organizations Click Through to Find Out What’s Planned at AAS and at Our Sister Orgs

American Association of Singapore AmCham

American Women’s Association Navy League

SAFL The American Club US Embassy

upcoming events 2022 US Tax Update Feb 8, 10:00 – 11:00 AM Teacher Night: Dinner & Theater - Miss Julie Feb 11, 9:00 – 11:00 PM

Mini Segway Tour of Marina Bay Feb 19, 4:15 – 6:45 PM How to Create an Elevator Pitch Feb 23, 12:00 PM

Weathering the Lows in Hard Times Movie Night: Saint Jack Feb 16, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM and 3-course Dinner at XCL World Academy IB - More than Just Feb 24, 6:00 – 9:00 PM a Diploma Feb 17, 4:30 PM Learn How to Podcast Feb 24, Mar 3, Mar 10, 7:00 – 9:00 PM

Saint Jack Tour March 5, 4:00 – 7:00 PM The TD Ameritrade Ambassador’s Cup Golf Tournament March 11, 12:00 PM AAS Annual General Meeting March 29, 7:00 PM

AAS Strategic Partners We would like to extend our thanks to our strategic partners at the Association for their continued support and contribution.

Patriot Partners

Stars & Stripes Partners

8 LIVING IN SINGAPORE

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{AAS Exclusive!} Join us for dinner and a movie as we screen 1979 Hollywood film Saint Jack, directed by Peter Bogdanovich, and secretly filmed entirely on location in Singapore.

Author Ben Slater will be on hand to give us the back story to the film, while XCL World Academy will provide a dinner exploring local foods.

For a truly immersive experience, sign up for the tour the weekend after, provided

by Jane’s Tours, of the locations featured in the film!

Click or scan here for more information and to purchase tickets.

Dinner & Movie: Feb 24, 6-9pm Tour: March 5, 4-7pm

What We’ve Been Up To at AAS

We love the holidays! It is a time to give and that is what we did! Scouts from BSA Troops 07, 10 and 1010 as well as USA Girl Scouts Overseas Troop 83 all helped to set up boxes and collect new toys at International Community School, Marsh, Sembawang, Singapore American School, Stamford American International School, The American Club, and the US Embassy. The overflowing boxes were taken to the US Marines who distributed the toys to children around Singapore.

To celebrate, The American Club and the American Association worked together on a virtual event sponsored by Marsh. Kids were thoroughly entertained by their host, Merry Nut Cracker, who played some games and decorated some cookies with them. Claire and Charlotte were very creative and won our cookie decorating contest while Ben, Zoe and their dog took home the Most Festively Dressed prize. The kids left with big smiles on their faces, especially after a surprise visit from Santa!

Celebrating Lunar New Year in Chinatown Chinatown is abuzz with activities at this time of the year as the community celebrates Lunar New Year.

Our members enjoyed a fun morning exploring this colorful district and soaking in the festivities, thanks to the organizations and local businesses working hard to preserve the unique taste and traditions of Chinese culture in Singapore.

Photo opportunities abound at every corner as the downtown area is decked out in a magnificent lightup display of colorful lanterns and sculptures of Tiger, which is the zodiac animal for the year 2022. There is even a special installation of 12, life-sized majestic tiger sculptures painted by local artists, each with its own distinct style and design.

During this specially-curated tour, untold stories of historic spaces were shared as the group walked through backstreets to check out hidden symbolisms and significance inspired by ancient wisdom, while savouring festive food and drink that would bring them luck and prosperity for the year ahead. What a wonderful way to usher in the Year of Tiger!

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Holiday Wreath Making Workshop After Thanksgiving, we held an online, hands-on workshop with Fleur and Blossoms to learn how to make our own Christmas wreaths. The ladies at Fleur and Blossoms not only taught us about wreath making, but also share a bit about the various flowers of the season.

Fantasy Football

Some participants maximized the fun by inviting friends over to share the experience at home, taking advantage of the then-newly-enacted safe management measures that allowed us to gather once again in groups of five. It was a great way to kick off the holiday season!

Congratulations to Greg (GoYouGoodThing) on winning the initial AAS Fantasy Football Championship, defeating MerLions by a score of 136 to 105. Greg will be savoring the hard fought season and victory at Lawry’s The Prime Rib! Congratulations Greg!

The league kept in touch via WhatsApp all season, talking friendly trash. The youngest player was 11-year-old Hudson. The winner was an Aussie who didn’t even know what Fantasy Football was when he got roped in. His team was named in honor of his stepfather who died this year. He always used to yell, “Go you good thing!” at horse races.

LIVING IN SINGAPORE 13

d r a w A t o n K s u o i g i l e R Earning the SA Troop 1010G B , rg u o rb a G th e

By Elizab

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Photos courtesy of Elizabeth Garbourg

Learning Cybersecurity From the Pros

By Susan Williams, USAGSO

In 2017, Palo Alto Networks (PAN), a global leader in cybersecurity, began work on a collaboration with Girl Scouts USA, to introduce the next generation of girls to cybersecurity.

With women making up only 11% of the cybersecurity workforce worldwide, PAN saw an opportunity to make a difference. Girl Scouts could earn badges in cybersecurity, taught by professionals in the field.

In 2020, PAN, in collaboration with Accenture, approached USA Girl Scouts Overseas Singapore about launching the cybersecurity badges here, and we were thrilled to be the first overseas committee to pilot the program. In spring 2021, more than 100 girls ages 5-16 from various schools in Singapore took part in the launch, where volunteers from PAN and Accenture conducted cybersecurity lessons.

Among the cybersecurity concepts covered in the curriculum were safer internet habits and the recognition of cyberthreats, which were explored through games, activities and craftwork.

The program was such a hit that PAN and Accenture volunteers returned for a second round of badges in Fall 2021, building on the concepts introduced in the initial sessions. Nearly 100 Girl Scouts across all age groups secured their Level 2 Cybersecurity badge and are now well equipped to take their third and final Cybersecurity Girl Scout badge as they progress to higher levels. PAN, Accenture, and USAGSO Singapore hope that this incredible STEM program will inspire a generation of girls to consider careers in cybersecurity.

LIVING IN SINGAPORE 15

My First Year of Scouting

By Ben Augenstein, BSA Troop 10B

I was so excited to cross over from my Cub Scout pack to a Scout troop last February, as we had already been learning about how the Scout troops work and the types of fun activities they do. As soon as we finished our bridging ceremony, we started work on our first rank straight away. I chose to do Scouts BSA even though I am from New Zealand, as my school friends asked me to join their Tiger Den in Grade 1 and my adventure has continued since then.

Even though we follow all the COVID-19 restrictions, my Scout friends and I are still able to do a lot of Scouting activities together both online and at day-camps. Currently, I am attending every outing possible and working on several merit badges all while attending the weekly Scout meetings. In just one year, I have earned seven merit badges, and advanced through to the First Class rank. I have enjoyed a range of activities in Scouting such as orienteering, sailing, knot tying, swimming, computer game coding, horseback riding, and the reading merit badges. There are so many choices of activities that you can do practically anything you can think of. I also pitch my tent at least once a month at home and do “home camping” with my little sister, who is a Cub Scout.

When I started in Scouts, I made a plan of how I wanted to reach the First Class rank in one year. I did lots of work at home on it including making my own videos and presentations to show how I could do the work. My Scout leaders then reviewed the work and gave me suggestions if I needed to improve. They helped me out a lot in my journey and I could not have done it without them. The older Scouts also gave me lots of good advice The weekly meetings we have online helped me learn a lot about Scouting, and I have even started to lead some of the meetings myself now. I was proud that I reached my First Class rank through my determination, but I still have so much to learn and experience before I can call myself a great Scout.

My hope for 2022 is that we get to go on some overnight camps and do more activities with my whole troop. I am going to sign up for the Scouts summer camp in Thailand, and hope that the COVID-19 restrictions improve so we can go and have the best time ever!

Photos courtesy of Ben Augenstein 16 LIVING IN SINGAPORE

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SPEAK TO OUR ADMISSIONS MANAGER LIVING IN SINGAPORE 17

The American Association sends a hearty welcome to our new Ambassador, Johnathan Kaplan!

Ambassador Kaplan is a prominent executive, entrepreneur, and philanthropist whose career has spanned numerous industries.

He was the co-founder and Chairperson of EducationSuperHighway, a nonprofit organization that brought high-speed internet to more than 49 million children in K-12 classrooms nationwide.

Professionally, Ambassador Kaplan is best known for founding Pure Digital Technologies and inventing its revolutionary Flip video camera. In 2009, Cisco bought Pure Digital Technologies and he became Senior Vice President and General On December 6, 2021, Ambassador Kaplan Manager of its Consumer Products Division. presented his credentials to the President of the Republic of Singapore, Halimah Yacob, at Ambassador Kaplan was also the founding the Istana.

CEO of The Melt, a chain of fast-casual restaurants. Previously, he was President and Upon his arrival, Ambassador Kaplan said, “This CEO of Sega.com and he was the founder and year, Singapore and the United States celebrate 55 CEO of FamilyWonder, an entertainment and years of diplomatic relations. I am deeply honored technology company. to serve as President Biden’s Ambassador to Singapore and build on 55 years of friendship Ambassador Kaplan was named Northern between our two nations. Singapore is a critically California 2010 Entrepreneur of the Year by Ernst important partner in the region, and I look forward & Young and was named by Business Week among to advancing US interests in Southeast Asia. I am the Most Influential People on the Web in 2008. He eager to meet with Singaporeans from all walks earned a BS from Carnegie Mellon University. of life and to discover this beautiful country and region.”

The position has been empty since Donald Trump took office. A big thank you to our Chargé d’Affaires Rafik Mansour for aptly serving as our acting ambassador while the position was empty.

A complete biography is available on the Embassy’s website. Follow the Ambassador on Twitter: @USAmbSG

Images courtesy US Embassy in Singapore 18 LIVING IN SINGAPORE

Welcome Rear Admiral Philip Sobeck!

We have another important American to celebrate, too! Rear Admiral Philip Sobeck assumed the role of commander, Logistics Group Western Pacific / CTF 73 in July 2021.

Rear Adm. Sobeck is a native of Boyertown, Pennsylvania and enlisted in the US Navy in 1985 as a Machinist Mate (Nuclear). He is a 1991 graduate of the US Naval Academy and earned a master’s degree in organizational management from the George Washington University. He has also served as a fellow for MIT’s Seminar XXI Strategic Studies Program.

He is a surface warfare officer whose operational assignments include USS Hawes (FFG 53), USS Gonzalez (DDG 66), USS McFaul (DDG 74), Destroyer Squadron FIFTY (CDS 50), and the First Combined United States and United Kingdom Destroyer Squadron (1 CDS) embarked on USS Harry S. Truman CVN 75). He commanded USS Avenger (MCM 1), USS Ardent (MCM 12), USS Farragut (DDG 99), and Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 50/Task Force (TF) 55. During these tours, he was forward deployed nine times and participated in a multitude of Joint and Combined operations.

Assignments ashore include PERS 410B, Bureau of Naval Personnel, executive assistant (EA) to the Commandant of Midshipman; deputy director for Maritime Security (Political Military International Security Office, US State Department); EA to CNO’s Executive Learning Officer; assistant deputy director Flag Officer Management and Detailing (PERS N00F); senior military assistant to USD (Personnel and Readiness); deputy EA to Commander, US Fleet Forces; director, Future Fleet Design and Architecture OPNAV (N3/N5); military assistant to the 76th Secretary of the Navy; special assistant to the Digital Warfare Office (N2/N6).

His previous flag assignments include director, 21st Century Sailor Office (OPNAV N17) and commander, Expeditionary Strike Group THREE (ESG 3) / CTF 36.

Image courtesy US Navy

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living in s

This year marks my 32nd year of working for US Embassy Singapore. I served under six administrations from President George Bush Sr. to the current President Joseph Biden. I have either seen in person or managed to shake hands with all six Presidents including the incumbent who previously visited Singapore when he was Vice President. I retire with fond memories – auditing USAID programs in Asia, managing financial duties for the Department of State’s Financial Management Offices in Singapore, Brunei, Cambodia and Vietnam, organizing the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) aviation security trainings in Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore.

An accountant by profession, I secured a position as a staff auditor with the USAID Regional Inspector General, Audit Singapore Office (RIG/A/S) in 1989. There were many memorable USAID programs from 1989 to 1996 throughout the Asia Pacific countries and in several US cities where the USAID contractors were headquartered.

In Mongolia, I had a glimpse of the country’s transition from a Soviet-controlled state into an independent free-market nation. One memorable audit was to Choibalsan, where I took a flight in a propeller Douglas DC3 plane with fold down side seats. In addition to passengers, there were luggage, goats, and chickens in the cabin. We visited coal mines and power stations to account for USAID-funded equipment in harsh winter conditions with temperatures down to -40 degrees centigrade, and interviewed the heads of the state-owned petroleum company, State Bank, and the Deputy Minister of Finance regarding the USAID programs. We noted a number of women headed the Mongolian State organizations 31 years ago even as women representation in top organizational roles were still not as prevalent.

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singapore

Humans of The Embassy TK Khaw, Transportation Security Administration

When RIG/A/S relocated to Embassy Bangkok in 1996, I joined the Embassy Singapore’s Financial Management Office (FMO) as the Assistant Finance Manager. Thinking it would be a desk-bound position, I was surprised with unexpected opportunities. In November 2000, President Bill Clinton made the first ever State Visit to Vietnam. I was seconded for a month prior to this historic visit to assist Hanoi’s Financial Management Office. I remember when President Clinton arrived late at night in Hanoi around 11:00 pm, there were thousands of Vietnamese waiting to greet his family along the route from the airport to the hotel. The local press reported it was a momentous occasion for the Vietnamese people. The staff at the US Embassy in Hanoi shared those sentiments and were equally enthusiastic.

During my 14 years working in the FMO, I had the opportunity to assist with the global standardization of our financial management platform, and supported other US embassies in the region.

In 2010, I joined the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) as a Regional Management and Program Analyst which required language skills in Malay and Bahasa Indonesia. During my tenure at TSA, I rediscovered the beauty of the two languages. I learned to speak Malay during my first 12 years schooling in Malaysia, as well as auditing and preparing accounts for State government cooperatives in Malaysia.

For the past 11 years, working in TSA Singapore has been extremely fulfilling. We have excellent teamwork and treat each other like family. The TSA civil aviation training programs enable partner governments to make aviation more secure in airports, and planes for millions of air travelers in the Asia Pacific. Since 2016, the Singapore TSA Attaché and I have organized training conferences presented by TSA subject matter experts in airport training centers in Denpasar, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore, while I had undertaken a keynote aviation security presentation in Taipei. It is rewarding to have a part in organizing training for more than 500 civil aviation staff- from senior management to supervisors and airport screeners in these countries. Due to COVID-19, TSA has adapted to present best practices in aviation security for regional countries civil aviation authorities via virtual meetings.

I will retire from the US Embassy Singapore with this thought: my successes throughout my years of working from 1989-2021 were made possible by working with everyone I had met and dealt with, whether daily or on an ad-hoc basis. It is through everyone’s contributions, cooperation, and interactions that we find the opportunities that enrich and empower us to be useful to our organization and our societies.

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Supporting a Safe Space for All

By Cara D’Avanzo

For any child who feels different, school can be a lonely place. All children benefit from knowing that their school is a safe space for them, and this is certainly true for students who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer; who do not conform to gender expectations and stereotypes; or who have questions around their sexuality or gender. For these students, Singapore American School (SAS) seeks to extend a warm welcome and provide a safe and supportive environment.

identify as LGBTQIA+, now or in the future. This is at the heart of our core values of compassion and respect.

The school’s support systems for our LGBTQIA+ community members include both general inclusivity measures and more targeted outreach and education. Our counselors reach out to SAS families and offer support to parents with concerns, including concerns about children who identify as LGBTQIA+ or who are questioning their gender and/or sexuality. Administrators and counselors work to support students of all identities and genders and provide safe spaces to talk and learn. Counselors also work as appropriate to facilitate conversations or work separately with parents to help them navigate their understanding. High school counselors have also offered presentations for parents, which have been well attended and received.

During the journey of self-discovery that is childhood and adolescence, students sometimes discover they do not fit neatly into society’s expectations around gender and sexuality.

We recognize that each of us deserves to be validated for our unique self, and as a school, we are committed to making sure all students know they are accepted, valued, and safe at SAS. We also want to prepare students to be sensitive A number of faculty members have participated and accepting of any family members, friends, in Safe Space workshops with our school classmates, neighbors, and colleagues who

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psychologists, and “Safe Space,” “Ally,” and rainbow stickers displayed on doors and windows let students know they are ready and willing to help. Faculty have also shared information about how to address offensive language around gender and sexuality in the classroom. School uniform options deliberately include elements that are gender-neutral, and we respect students’ preferred names. High school departments are addressing diversity, equity, and inclusion, including around gender and sexuality, in their curriculum reviews.

learn about topics their classmates researched.

In high school, classes such as English, social studies, the arts, and Catalyst offer opportunities for relevant research and self-expression. Ageappropriate resources are available in divisional libraries; they are not grouped together so students need not fear stigmatization if they search for an item. Librarians and teachers stand ready to help students, parents, and educators find the resources they need in a supportive and discreet manner.

Lessons and discussions regarding these topics are delivered in age-appropriate ways schoolwide.

In elementary school, our core values of compassion, honesty, fairness, responsibility, and respect provide a common language to discuss issues around identity, family, and community.

Children’s choices around toys, books, dress-up costumes, and free-dress wear are respected, and educators may facilitate conversations about society’s gender expectations as they develop organically. Starting in fifth grade, health lessons cover biological aspects of human development, and middle school advisory lessons address different forms of bullying and discrimination. In eighth grade, health and advisory lessons include discussions around biological gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual/romantic orientation, and relevant vocabulary. This year, as part of our diversity, equity, and inclusion focus, the high school advisory program began with an in-depth lesson for all students centered on exclusion, inclusion, and the kind of community we want to build at SAS. Class options and assignments give interested students opportunities to learn more about related topics. In the eighth grade social studies’ Civil Rights unit, for example, students have chosen to research Harvey Milk, the first openly gay elected official in California; the landmark Supreme Court case Obergefell v. Hodges, which legalized same-sex marriage throughout the United States; and current issues impacting the transgender community. A culminating “gallery walk” gives other eighth grade students the chance to

SAS students have been integral to our efforts to build a community ethos of acceptance and support. Peer-to-peer support groups in the middle school and high school give students safe spaces to express themselves, ask questions, and share experiences. High school students also created PRISM, a service club dedicated to education and raising awareness in support of the LGBTQIA+ community. SAS staff members who identify as LGBTQIA+ or have LGBTQIA+ family members have acted as guest speakers for these groups; besides giving students insights into their own

LIVING IN SINGAPORE 23

lives, these adults act as role models and share their experiences around such questions as “how do I tell my parents?”; “how do I navigate social relationships?”; and “how do I support a loved one in this situation?” One of Superintendent Tom Boasberg’s first listening tour sessions last year was with students who identify as LGBTQIA+.

High school students are currently working with teachers to look at LGBTQIA+ inclusion in the curriculum and are assisting with staff in-service work around diversity, equity, and inclusion.

We realize that the SAS community includes families who hold disparate views on issues surrounding gender and sexuality and we welcome these diverse views. At the same time, at the student level, SAS will continue to be committed to providing extraordinary care, including affirmative social-emotional care, for each child; personalizing our support for every student; and emphasizing both physical and mental wellness for our students and community members.

Our parent community started SAS Rainbow Parents and Allies several years ago. Rainbow Parents offers an inclusive and supportive environment for parents and allies of the LGBTQIA+ community across all grade levels to talk about gender and sexuality topics, including positive self-esteem, healthy identity development, and acceptance of differences.

According to one of the parents involved, “Shortly after starting SAS Rainbow Parents and Allies, we as the founding group of several parents found inspiration in the open doors and hearts of the teachers and faculty in the school. We found eager partnership from all three principals, college counseling, personal academic counseling, admissions, athletics, libraries, parent engagement, and communications in finding ways to strongly and systemically signal SAS support for students open and hidden from view. Together they exemplified the Eagle Way by codifying a supportive environment for our LGBTQIA+ students at SAS.”

Our support for our LGBTQIA+ community is a work in progress. Even as we seek to strengthen our support systems in this area, we know there are students who feel afraid of coming forward, disrespected by words and behavior around them, or unsure of where to turn for help. In this time of heightened discussion around issues of inclusion, equal treatment, and righting past injustice as we move forward together, we feel it is important to be clear that SAS strives to be a community that sees its diversity as a strength and a source of pride.

24 LIVING IN SINGAPORE

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Save the Date!

April 23, 2022 Planning for our annual Spring Fling is underway!

Want to get involved? We’re looking for a co-chair to help plan the festivities. Contact generalmanager@aasingapore.com

if you’re interested.

LIVING IN SINGAPORE 25

26 LIVING IN SINGAPORE

The Origins of Chinese New Year

By Theodorus Ng

Chinese New Year has been celebrated for over 3,500 years, with one-sixth of the world’s population participating annually. It falls on a day between January 21 and February 20 — the day the second new moon emerges — as determined by the lunisolar Chinese calendar. Therefore, it is also known as Lunar New Year. While history dates the first official celebration to the Han dynasty, there may be a dark mythological underpinning for its origination and its customs. In Chinese ethnic communities around the world, such piercing folklore has been passed through the ages.

LIVING IN SINGAPORE 27

In the onset of the second new moon, following the winter solstice, a beast named 年 (nián; directly translated to “year” in English) would emerge from the mountains or under the sea to ravage villages. It would devour villagers and crops given winter scarcity. One year, the villagers went into hiding elsewhere while a brave old man chose to stay the night and exact revenge on the monster. He hung up red papers and set off firecrackers upon the beast’s arrival. The next day, the villagers came back to unscathed homes. The discovery that Nian was scared of loud noises and the color red, formed the basis for many traditions – red clothes, red lanterns, red spring scrolls, firecrackers, and lion dance recovered. A couple who just bore a son in their performances. The beast never returned, and later years wanted to protect him. was eventually captured by a Taoist monk before retreating to a faraway mountain.

That night, they lit candles and prayed sincerely.

The gods sent eight fairies disguised as bronze The tale of another monster, 祟 (sui), relates coins. The couple strung the eight coins using a more specifically to one tradition: gifting red red string and handed the chain, along with red packets. In Chinese, red packets are known as 红 paper, to their son. They played with their son 包 (hóng bāo). More recognizably, in Singaporean till very late as he wrapped and unwrapped the lingo, it is called an ang pow (borrowed from the coins in joy. When he finally tired himself out, Hokkien dialect). they placed the wrapped coins under his pillow.

Later, as the wind blew the candles out and Sui was about to commence his act of terror, the coins shot beams of light through the red paper and scared the monster away! This became the tradition of giving “压岁钱” (yā suì qián).

The second word “岁” is a pun, a homonym of the monster’s name, as well as the denotation of age. The phrase, taken as a whole, loosely translates to “Sui-suppressing money” or “agesuppressing money.” This is the money found in red packets which are given by adults and elderly to the younger generations. Overtime, this act has become symbolic of attracting good fortune and blessings.

On the night of New Year’s Eve, Sui would touch the heads of children in deep sleep. Those touched would contract fever the next morning and face cognitive deterioration once they have

28 LIVING IN SINGAPORE

Advertorial admissions@sais.edu.sg | +65 6653 2949 | sais.edu.sg

Why Psychology Should Be A Mandatory Class In School Stamford American International School empowers students to pursue their passion and express who they are through multiple graduating pathways.

In setting up a personalized education, they inspire students to create their unique futures.

They nurture a culture of genuine and deeper learning where students are taught to take responsibility for their own learning. An example would be its offering of numerous exciting AP classes. These are one-year college-level courses where students can get a feel for the rigors of college-level studies while they still have the support of a high school environment. When students take AP courses, it prepares students for success at university and life beyond through a program that develops the intellectual, social, emotional and physical well-being of students.

Hear what Stamford American’s AP Psychology Grade 11 student, Lynn has to say, passionately, about why psychology should be taught in school.

Mathematics, Science, History and English. The core four. These are said to be the most crucial and useful classes you take throughout your high school career. But does it really stop there?

I am in my junior year of high school and as I reflect on all of the classes I have taken, I can’t help but feel remorseful for the students who missed out on all of the concepts, theories and knowledge that psychology has to offer. I took AP Psychology in my sophomore year, and I loved every bit

of it. Every day I came to class excited to learn, and by the end of each class, I found myself entranced by the material.

The best part of it all was as I learnt more about the subject, I began to form a better understanding of who I was.

Most students have a warped idea about what the profession really entails, and others simply assume it is therapy.

While psychologists can also be therapists, psychology in of itself is not about therapy. It is the branch of science that delves into the workings of the human mind, behaviour, and a combination of natural and social sciences. This has enabled psychologists to convert theoretical phenomena into observable data.

Scrutinizing your existence What makes psychology such a remarkable field of study is that it encourages you to scrutinize every aspect of your existence and re-evaluate it. Why do I interact with these kinds of people? Why do I think like this? Why do I behave like that? And by the end of it, you come to question your reality, even looking at life through a different lens. Although the core four classes enable us to solve problems and develop critical skills, psychology enables us to understand the self better.

Arguably, this is even more important.

Simply put, when we visualize ourselves in the context of what we are trying to learn, we understand the content significantly better. Therefore, if psychology was taken before any of the core four classes, this may actually help students relate to the content, helping us to understand the nature of their importance in our lives.

Rich, meaningful content Possibly the most important skill that I have taken away from AP psychology is deeper thinking. You delve into sophisticated content like mental illnesses, narcotics, neuroscience, and child development. You approach the course as if you were a real psychologist.

Psychology has personally helped me come to terms with the anxiety I faced as a teenager. It showed me that I am not alone. It showed me that I can deal with my problems in a healthy manner.

It put things into perspective for me in a way that I never really considered.

If psychology were taught as a high school course, students may be able to find themselves – their identities, their aspirations, their purposes – at a much earlier stage in life. One may argue that psychology is too similar to science, rendering it useless. However, I have found that every element of Mathematics, Science, History and English lies in the core teachings of psychology.

So, if you are an IB/AP student trying to figure out your courses for next year, I implore you to take this class. Listen and absorb the content. Because who knows, maybe all it takes is one class to find out who you are, too.

To start your child’s journey, speak with our Admissions team at admissions@sais.edu.sg or on +65 6653 2949 LIVING IN SINGAPORE 29

Women Who Have Made a Difference

By Melinda Murphy

On March 8, we celebrate International Women’s Day and the contributions women have made across the globe. Here in the Lion City, the Singapore Women’s Hall of Fame recognizes women who’ve had a major impact on the island’s history, including many expats. We take a look at a handful of them, Singapore’s foremothers, from different parts of the world. We salute these amazing women who have helped shape the nation.

Evelyn Norris Eurasian (1918-2014) A student at Raffles Girl School (RGS) from 1924 to 1933, Evelyn later came back to her alma mater as a history teacher. Rarely relying on text books, Evelyn instead brought history alive for the girls by drawing on her own background; this included volunteering in the Royal Air Force in Sri Lanka during WWII. She then served as the school’s Principal from 1961 to 1976.

A dynamic and hands-on leader, she made many innovative changes to ensure the girls’ school kept pace with others. She also implemented holding assemblies in English one week, Malay the next and then Tamil. Believing in a well-rounded education, she introduced many sports to the school and encouraged more cocurricular activities; she herself was involved in many activities outside of the school. For instance, she served as a Major, commanding the Singapore Women Auxiliary Corps and commanding the girls’ section of the National Cadet Corps.

A huge animal rights activist, Evelyn also volunteered at the SPCA together with her sister. When she died at the age of 95, hundreds of students from RGS and the Crescent Girls’ School (where she was the founding principal) attended her wake.

Dr Charlotte Ferguson-Davie British (1880-1943) The wife of Singapore’s first Anglican Bishop, Charlotte Ferguson-Davie was a medical doctor at a time when many women were not yet practising medicine. She founded the St Andrew’s Medical Mission in 1913. It had a dispensary on Bencoolen Street to provide medical care for destitute women and children.

During her time in Singapore, Dr FergusonDavie set up two hospitals. The first was St Andrew’s Mission Hospital for Women and Children (1923); the other was and St Andrew’s Orthopaedic Hospital (1938) for children with muscular deformities. She was also instrumental in spearheading nursing training courses for local women.

This British doctor’s legacy of caring for the disadvantaged and underserved in Singapore has inspired the medical mission to grow. Today, St Andrew’s Mission Hospital’s stable of services include a community hospital, senior care centers, nursing homes and an autism center comprising a school and adult services.

Intrigued and want to learn more about the nation’s foremothers? Head on over to the Singapore Women’s Hall of Fame website at swhf.sg. You can even take a heritage walk with them where expert guides offer fascinating information about the women, their achievements and their legacies. Check it out!

This article first appeared in the March 2020 edition of Expat Living and is reprinted with permission.

Shirin Fozdar Indian (1905-1992)

St Mathilde Raclot French (1814-1911)

One of the most prominent advocates of women’s rights in Singapore during the 1950s, Shirin Fozdar played a key role in securing better legal protection for women. She began speaking out about women’s rights as a teen in India and continued activism in Singapore when she and her husband moved here in 1950 to spread the Baha’i faith.

CHIJMES was originally known as the Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus (CHIJ). It was a girls’ school established in 1854 by an order of French Catholic nuns led by Reverend Mother St Mathilde Raclot. Just ten days after arriving in Singapore from Penang and moving into Caldwell House on Victoria Street, the nuns began to take in students. Soon, they also started a Convent Orphanage and a Home for Abandoned Babies as they found day-old babies were being left at their doorstep.

Polygamy was common in Singapore at that time, and successful men often showed off their latest wife at society events. In the Malay community, the divorce rate was 60 percent because men could arbitrarily divorce their wives. Appalled by this, Shirin helped create the Singapore Council of Women (SCW).

Throughout the 1950s, the SCW campaigned for a ban on polygamy and for better legal protection for women. The Syariah Court was set up in 1958; new procedures led to a dramatic fall in the divorce rate in the Muslim community. In 1959, the People’s Action Party (PAP) included women’s rights in its election manifesto; in 1961, the Women’s Charter became law. Among other things, the charter outlawed polygamy for non-Muslims. Shirin also lived in Thailand for ten years, working to help destitute women and girls.

The nuns conducted two classes at the school: one for fee-paying students and the other for orphans and the poor. To raise funds for their work, St Mathilde taught needlework to her fellow nuns and their students, and they sold their products to the wives of the local Chinese merchants. The school grew rapidly and, by the turn of the century, there were some 300 students.

Today, the eleven Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus schools in Singapore stand as a testament to St Mathilde’s work. All but 20 of the 79 years that St Mathilde was a nun were spent in Asia. After Singapore, she led the first group of French nuns to Japan to work with disadvantaged women and children, fulfilling a childhood dream.

Ann Elizabeth Wee – British (1926-2019) Often described as the founding mother of social work in Singapore, Ann Elizabeth Wee arrived here in 1950, aged 23. She reunited with her fiancé whom she’d met at Cambridge University while studying at the London School of Economics.

First a teacher for four years at Methodist Girls’ School, Ann became a training officer at the Social Welfare Department, in charge of counseling and advice, and visiting low-income families in their homes. She mastered Cantonese in order to reach out to the women in the squatter areas who had mostly been abandoned or abused by their husbands. Until the Women’s Charter became law in 1961, women had few rights. Marriages were mostly customary, bigamy was commonplace, and there was no such thing as a divorce decreed by a law court.

Joining the Department of Social Studies at the then University of Malaya, Ann helped shape the education system for social work undergraduates. Ten years later, she became the department head and spearheaded the establishment of the Honors degree course. She co-authored books about social welfare and sat on the Panel of Advisors to the Juvenile Court for 40 years.

A True Singapore Expat: Rebecca Bisset

by Julian A. Chua

GROWING UP

Expat. Businesswoman. Mom of two kids.

Saying that Rebecca Bisset makes a good candidate to feature for Living in Singapore magazine to celebrate International Women’s Day (IWD) is an understatement.

Rebecca

founded

Expat

Living

magazine 20 years ago, just three years after arriving in Singapore and she’s kept the magazine going strong despite so many publications failing in the digital era.

Here she shares her insights into her upbringing, her journey to Singapore and her fond memories of living here so far.

Tell us more about your family background and share with us on what it was like growing up.

When people ask where I am from, I usually say, “Do you want the short or long answer?!” My parents were British. Dad was a teacher (later a headmaster), living in Chester at the time. They headed off to Northern Rhodesia back in the late 1950s, and their next stop was Aden, where I was born. They loved it, but soon had to leave because of the violence that was erupting (and sadly hasn’t stopped).

We had a few years in the UK and then lived in three different African countries: Lesotho, Botswana, and Zimbabwe. I then spent some time in South Africa, followed by eight years in London, before moving to Singapore.

So I’ve been a nomad, at least for the first half of my life. But I’ve now been here for 23 years! Those countries in Africa were just amazing to grow up in; there was so much freedom and space. We had horses, then motorbikes and Jeeps! There are amazing beaches in South Africa, and fantastic scenery in all the other places.

How did your upbringing shape the person you are today?

I think because I went to boarding school from the age of ten and moved around so much that I am adaptable and don’t get phased by change.

How would you sum up your childhood?

Varied! So many different people lived in those places we called home – one place was a university campus, another was a mining town in the middle of nowhere. The other children were all in the same position, and you tended to form a bond. We would all be back from boarding school at the same time and we’d have lots of fun.

I’m still in touch with people from those days.

32 LIVING IN SINGAPORE

“Singapore is a land of opportunity, and it always has been.”

SINGAPORE AS HOME

leave Singapore in two weeks. Luckily,

BUSINESSWOMAN

How and why did you decide to work in Singapore?

my ex got another job, but we vowed to

How did you end up owning and operating the magazine called Expat Living?

We’d just had the two kids in the UK, and

get PR as soon as possible so that we were never in that position again.

Among the first good friends we made in

my then husband’s company was closing

Singapore were a couple who had also

any openings in other countries and there

What do you like about Singapore as a country?

were. We chose here because my sister

The weather! But then I also miss the

The husband was an entrepreneur, and he

was at the time living in Surabaya, and

seasons. I think Singapore is a land of

had the idea of starting a magazine that

I liked Asia. She moved to Singapore a

opportunity, and it always has been,

would help people settle into Singapore

couple of years after us and is still here!

going back to the first traders who came

life more quickly by interviewing other

here from China, India, and Europe.

expats

the UK branch. We asked if there were

lived in different places as expat kids.

for

their

recommendations

and tips.

I had just started doing a bit of photography and thinking about what

I like that all religions are allowed. I’m

I should be doing workwise when the

not particularly religious, but I think this

He asked me to be the editor. I told him

Expat Living opportunity came along.

freedom should be acknowledged as

that I didn’t really know what I was doing,

something pretty special. I love the food,

but I was happy to give it a go!

Having lived here for 23 years, what influenced your decision to make Singapore your permanent residency?

and there’s plenty to do. For example,

walking, cycling and exploring these past

What are some hard decisions you faced and challenges you had to overcome along the way?

We got our PR very early on as my

two years!

The initial period was tough, because

the new Park Connectors are great – perfect timing as we’ve all had to do more

husband’s company got bought out after

I was left to do just about everything.

two years and we had to be ready to

And while I was okay on the content side (I took almost all the photographs and wrote all the content for the first 64-page issue!), I didn’t have any formal training in business or management. It was a steep learning curve to hire people and manage them, and to sort out sales and finance.

But I got through it and found some lovely people who have helped me along the way.

The entrepreneur was keen to sell the business in 2009, but a couple of friends bought his share, so that was a relief! We also had someone offer to buy us in 2014, but I do love what I do (mostly!) and I couldn’t see myself doing anything else or working for someone.

Rebecca with her sister and father in Scotland.

LIVING IN SINGAPORE 33

When the media landscape started to

settle into their new lives in Singapore

VIEWPOINTS

change, and the print versus digital

more easily and finding the things they

debate was just beginning, we needed to

need and enjoy.

How important do you think diversity, equality and inclusiveness is in society and the workplace?

make some tough calls on how to operate the business in the future. We decided

When people tell me that Expat Living

to be an early adopter of digital, and we

magazine has helped them, I am happy!

spent a lot of time and energy setting up systems to cope with the changes.

PERSONAL LIFE

Whatever medium you choose, the

What does your day-to-day lifestyle look like in Singapore?

principles of marketing are key. You need

Recently, I’ve been sitting behind a

a regular, informative, on-brand message

computer and working most days! I

that gets to the right people. The type of

was trying to walk more, but that has

platform doesn’t matter so much as how

faded a bit.

people use it. A lot of our readers still love to relax with a drink and flick through the print magazine while others prefer digital for quick access to news and facts.

Keeping it all going is a balance between trying to grow (new titles or locations) and doing what you do better. I think being open to ideas has distracted me from focusing and doing what we do better.

In any business, it’s easy to be pulled in different directions. There are always people telling you what you should be doing or doing differently!

What achievements/milestones are you most proud of and why?

Our recent February issue was a big milestone: 20 years since the first issue of the magazine was published in February 2002.

What are your hobbies/interests in Singapore?

and digital and that’s always nice, and publishing in two countries (we have a Hong Kong magazine) was quite a big

who you think is best for the job no matter what color, sex or age they are. Do you connect with them? Are they reliable with attention to detail? I don’t set about hiring someone in particular. It’s really if they tick these boxes.

Expat Living magazine is very mixed ethnicity-wise, but it’s never been a conscious decision; it just happened.

There’s a more female bias, and I have always let people work around their

I do ‘Swimsanity’ (pool exercises), either

family and kids, so I think that has worked

on Zoom or in a group, a couple of times a

especially well for women.

week. I’m fairly erratic with the gym at the Singapore Polo Club, but I also do some tennis and yoga. I’d like to ride horses again, but haven’t got around to it yet.

What kind of stereotyping, biasness and discrimination do you see in Singapore? And what do you think can be changed or improved?

Any hangouts, activities and food you could personally recommend to expats living here?

I think there is still racism here. You hear

We had a lovely little meal near Little

we have to put our race down on forms

India the other day, and another one at

for facials! Someone used the term

a great place on Haji Lane; both were a

“minority” to me the other day and I had

modern fusion style. It made me wonder

no idea who they were talking about. I just

why I don’t get out and do it more often.

thought it was strange and unnecessary.

So I think my current recommendation

little eateries now. There are plenty of

Valentine’s Day is coming up. In your opinion, what would an ideal Valentine’s Day look like to you here in Singapore?

beautiful old buildings to look at, too, and

I do like sunsets, so I think a comfy picnic

some pretty jungle walks.

on the beach with a bit of affordable bling

would be to get out and walk more in

We’ve won quite a few awards in print

In my view, you should choose a person

the old town areas. There are some cool

step. I like to think we are helping people

race mentioned all the time on the radio and elsewhere – and I don’t know why

as a present would be perfect.

Julian Abraham Chua is a serial entrepreneur and freelance writer who is passionate about crafting content around lifestyle, business, technology, fitness and wellness, self-improvement and sports, among other subject matters. He combines his business experience and love for writing to provide readers with insights and balanced perspectives across a range of topics.

Growing up in Lesotho.

34 LIVING IN SINGAPORE

ic dinner at Let love bloom with a romant steakhouse nd Lawry’s The Prime Rib, a gra rican roast Ame tic hen renowned for its aut ntine’s Vale rse cou sixbeef ribs. The er dinn for ed serv be will u men set and h lunc on February 13, and dinner on February 14 at Lawry’s The Prime Rib Singapore.

Rooftop bar Smoke & Mirrors will host a one-nightonly Valentine’s Day culinary pop-up on February 14. Featuring an exclusive preview of Chef Kurt Sombero’s brand-new dining concept ahead of its opening, Smoke & Mirrors X Kubô presents a specially curated fourcourse menu paired with tailored cocktails for a romantic evening above the glittering Singapore skyline for Valentine’s Day.

Looking for something to do with your special someone on Valentine’s Day? Grab your spouse or partner, or a group of friends for Galentine’s, and check out some of these specials going on around town.

Mount Faber Leisure Group is taking Valentine’s Day to the next level with a series of romantic food and beverage offerings spread across three days.

From February 12-14, 2022, lovebirds can take date nights to greater heights and enjoy a bird’s eye view of the city’s sparkling vistas while indulging in specially curated offerings from Arbora Celebrate an evening of romance Hilltop Garden & Bistro, Dusk over db Bistro & Oyster Restaurant & Bar, and Bar’s elegant four-course the Singapore French dinner menu on Cable Car. Valentine’s Day.

Celebrate lo ve under the stars at the iconic ro oftop destina tion CÉ LA VI. Treat your self and your sweetheart to the CÉ LA VI Valentine’ s Day Four-Course Set Dinner M enu on February 14 against th e stunning Sing apore skylin e to ignite the flames of passion.

r on in you ial pers c ue e q p s s re e st pictu Treat th oard ore’s mo b p a a e g is in S ru life to inner c d ry ges u x a k lu c ntic ne pa and roma s. Valenti s ted o tr ra a u c lb lA specially a the Roya h it w u plete e men , come com ven-cours e s y a D g ’s s includin Valentine beverage e th d n a free-flow , rs ne, flowe champag gapore’s in S f o s best view e. lar skylin spectacu

Add a sprinkle of sweet romance with Black Tap’s Red Velvet Cake Shake, available from February 11-14.

The limited-time CrazyShake® features a red velvet cake batter shake served in a towering glass with a vanilla frosted rim and red and white sprinkles, crowned with a slice of luscious red velvet cake, whipped cream and delightful chocolate drizzle.

Yardbird Sout hern Table & Bar presents an unforgettab le fivecourse dinne r this Valent ine’s Day specially curated to hi t all the chord s of your lover’s heart .

On Valentine’s Day, couples can let their senses take flight with KOMA’s specially curated six-course sharing menu.

The rising tide of women entrepreneurs and womenowned businesses:

HOW THEY’RE CHANGING THE WORLD FOR WOMANKIND

By Faith Chanda

“Studies show that women have higher levels of empathy than men. I think that this makes women-owned or womenled businesses very special. Having a successful business is all about understanding what your customer feels, the customer user journey. Women can understand this very well – a truly underrated superpower,” says Devi Sahny.

group’s members. Topics have included social media management and image consultancy, and have spun off small groups of job-specific groups such as writers and painters. Many sessions are given by members themselves, eager to share their knowledge with other women.

Sometimes experts are brought in when there’s a lack of expertise in the group.

E

One of Heidi and Janet’s proudest achievements for the group was “organizing an inaugural Christmas Fair where we had 15 members showcasing our products. The camaraderie and the friendships forged were priceless!”

The group also features a mentoring program where more experienced ladies can advise newer business owners.

Online and in person, members can be found sharing resources and contacts, ideas and solutions. While members often collaborate, sharing tables at fairs and driving customers to one another’s businesses, “I vowed to never take funds for advertising or organizing fees,” says Heidi. “I just wanted to help other women enjoy their creative outlets and help them find a sense of purpose like my small business did for me.”

are escaping violent domestic situations, she wanted to share her commitment to empowerment and collaboration with women there, who desperately needed something positive. So she launched PoPstrings, a business that teaches women and girls to make and sell braided and beaded jewelry. “Over the past five years, we have worked with survivors of domestic violence, slum dwellers, and pregnant VENING THE PLAYING FIELD teen moms. We are totally volunteer run so it’s a bunch of women from all walks of And women are using that superpower, life that want to give back or pay forward.” and the organizations they run, to make a difference. Sahny is founder and CEO of NSPIRING SELF-CONFIDENCE Ascend Now, a start-up ed tech company offering three streams: Academics, A fruitless search for a swimsuit she Beyond Academics and Entrepreneurship. felt confident in led Paula Kenneally While the initial focus was about updating to eventually launch UBU Swimwear. the way we think about educational She decided to do something about the curriculum across the board, Sahny discomfort and self-consciousness many has noticed that Ascend Now’s tailored women feel when buying and wearing curriculum has had a potent effect on swim wear. She says, “UBU Swimwear students, especially girls. is designed to look and feel good. When you feel good, you are more confident.

“Female students tend to transform And when you are confident, you enjoy much more quickly [in the program] than yourself more!” UBU is all about helping our male students,” she says, and the girls women feel better about themselves, from have blossomed with empowerment and researching fabrics to creating designs confidence. “For example, we have two that prevent the dreaded “wardrobe students, Sofia and Luciana, only 13 years malfunction” to flipping the purchasing old, who have launched a clothing start- experience on its head (“I will never try up focused on tie-dye clothing. They have to talk someone into buying if they are made $30,000 since inception!” unsure. I provide a free “Try At Home” service so you can try the swimwear in Ascend Now also sponsors a one privacy and comfort with no obligation,” for one program whereby students can she says). share online lessons with children in underprivileged communities. “I love UBU’s recent #youbeyou campaign to see our female students advocate for really brought home the message of body education in communities in Afghanistan. positivity and body confidence with realThe playing field is far from even, and we size models, including Paula herself! try to do our bit every step of the way to even it – even if it’s just a small shift.”

HARING STRENGTHS AND RESOURCES

I

CPoPstrings Project

HANGING THE NARRATIVE

began from the idea that there has to be a better way for women to succeed in the workplace.

Founder Dr Rajeshree Nimish Parekh, known modestly as simply “Gina,” wanted to harness the power of women’s strengths.

“While working with women, I have learned that women bring perspectives and personal experiences into their work that can be special. Once given a safe platform to express themselves, their creativity and voices just shine!”

One thing she didn’t like about the workplace was competition, “Historically, women tend to compete with other women rather than support them, as a result of various cultural and systemic issues. I spent a large part of my career proving to myself and to others that I was better than the rest. That can be exhausting. I decided to change that narrative – inside my head and through my actions. I stopped competing and started collaborating and it felt really good!”

S

Starting a business can be hard, especially if the business has a creative or artistic slant. Yet, there are quite a few small businesses in the creative space run by women in Singapore. Flipping Creative Collective isn’t a business, but it’s a place for female business owners to collaborate and network, and it was started by a small business owner, Heidi Bouz. “I had an idea to form a group where creative women could connect and small businesses could cooperate to manage our own fairs or online marketplaces.”

While the online marketplace hasn’t really resonated, the group has grown by leaps and bounds. That growth is thanks in no small part to Janet Privett, owner of her own small business GingerLily (in addition to her full time job!), who Heidi calls “the business mind of the group.”

What started with a Facebook page and a few small-group networking sessions has bloomed into a hive of productive collaboration, support and cooperation.

Prior to covid restrictions, the group gave rise to dozens of educational talks and brainstorming sessions aimed at As a volunteer at Star Shelter, which helping to grow businesses while offering offers temporary shelter to women who valuable learning opportunities to the

“I used to have that fear of going to the pool wearing a bikini. I get anxious just thinking of how many people might be laughing at me. But as I grew and realized that I could overcome my fear, I also noticed that no one really looks at you. It’s just your fear. In reality, you’re actually more worried about what others think of you than you are about yourself!

So, bye bye fear, hello me!

Time to flaunt that bikini!”

- Mary Victor, co-creator of the #youbeyou campaign

Q Get to Know the Women Behind These Successful Companies In celebration of International Women’s Day, Living in Singapore chatted with several women entrepreneurs who have been running successful businesses here in Singapore. We get their thoughts on diversity in the workplace, hear about some challenges they’ve faced, and get their advice for other women who are thinking of starting a business.

38 LIVING IN SINGAPORE

Q&A Shareen Wong

S

hareen is the owner of Embrace Jewellery and a radio personality.

Tell us a little bit about your background and business.

COVID-19 is probably one of the biggest

Embrace Jewellery is a multi-label store

down happened last year, we had to

that features chic, beautiful jewelry.

Started in 2008, the store features our own line of jewelry – The Embrace Collection – with affordable sterling silver and gemstone pieces, as well as the Embrace Luxe range, with Modern Jade and precious stone jewelry in solid gold. We also have a curated collection of jewelry brands from Spain, Italy and more! Available both in stores and on our website embracejewellery.com.

How and why did you decide to start a business in Singapore?

After my marriage broke up, I decided to go on a solo trip around the world and I was inspired to set up a retail business that showcased the beautiful pieces I saw on my travels. I wanted a challenge that would keep me busy and allow me to grow. I sure got one!

What were some of the challenges you faced along the way?

Having no prior experience in running a business, I’ve had to learn along the way and from mistakes. It’s been such a roller coaster journey of ups and downs.

The business started more as a lifestyle and homeware business, but grew into a jewelry business, and in order to continue

challenges we’ve faced. When the lock shut the stores but still had rent and manpower costs to pay. We didn’t want to let anyone go, so we had to pivot fast to focus our attention on e-commerce and boosting our social media presence, even learning how to sell through live streams.

How important do you think diversity, equality and inclusiveness is in society and the workplace? Why do you think so?

I think it’s really important because everyone brings something different to the table. We make it a point to hire across different age groups as we feel that older workers have a lot of experience to share, and younger ones inspire us with their energy and ideas. Some of our staff have been with us over a decade and we value their loyalty and experience.

What advice would you give to women interested in starting a business in Singapore?

Do your homework and know what you’re in for. It is hard work running a business so be prepared to put in long hours. Stay adaptable. It’s so important to be able to adapt as situations are always changing, and what worked three months ago might not work now.

to operate and grow the business through the years, I’ve had to improve my skills through courses, reading books, and hiring and working with the right people.

LIVING IN SINGAPORE 39

Q&A Karin Rysgaard

Cocoon Styling

K

arin is the owner of Cocoon Styling, and the co-owner of Island Living with Denise Vrontas.

Tell us a little bit about your background and business.

I arrived in Singapore 17 years ago with

beyond the initial two year contract that

marketing background, takes charge of

were typically offered back in those days.

this side of the business while I focus on the creative elements. It is the perfect

People were arriving with a container

marriage, so to speak, when it comes

of furniture, often a bit of a mish-mash

to our individual skills. We have also

of treasures and furniture collected on

cemented a wonderful friendship along

their journeys. Many were desperately

the way, which is such a bonus. In addition,

trying to make it work in a new tropical

slowly building a great team of staff from

environment, in a home that they don’t

different cultures and backgrounds to

own. It’s a familiar story I still hear very

back us up is just fantastic, allowing us to

often today.

keep growing.

As my design projects got bigger, I became frustrated sourcing furniture and

What were some of the challenges you faced along the way?

homewares for design projects. I couldn’t

There have been many challenges along

seem to find enough variety of well-

the way. In the early years, finding

priced items. I was randomly contacted

suppliers and contractors, and trying to

by a client in November 2018, who I had

build lasting relationships with them,

worked with several years before, who

was tough to start. I was lucky to connect

mentioned that her neighbor Denise was

with my main contractor, Raj, ten years

interested in starting to import products

ago, and we still work closely together

from the SEA region and perhaps I could

today. Being a creative person, my

connect with her and include her products

technical skills were limited, so I needed

in my projects. Denise had a toddler and

loads of help in this area and still do. We

three-month-old at the time and was not

were lucky enough to have made some

looking forward to going back into her

great supplier connections for Island

previous corporate role.

After several

Living prior to the pandemic. However,

phone conversations, the concept grew.

COVID-19 has had its challenges for sure

We decided to jump in, with plenty of

in regard to shipping and stock supply

blind faith, hard work, and many lessons

chain. Contractors and manpower to

learned along the way, which all seem to

work onsite on design projects has also

Styling was formalized 12 years ago.

be paying off. Island Living was started

been a challenge.

How and why did you decide to start a business in Singapore?

At Island Living, we want to offer our

to support and build lasting relationships

customers a laid-back approach to

with smaller businesses in the region

furnishing and homewares to style their

during this time has been fantastic. The

homes; products and items that are on

countries that we all used to pop to for

trend and affordable. We focus on natural

a long weekend are really struggling and

textures and fibers, using recycled and

need support.

a young toddler at the time. I had been working in Melbourne in the design field.

The first house I rented actually became my first project here. The landlord was also considering selling if she did not find a tenant, but after discussion with her, she agreed to rent to me. She was based in Shanghai, so project management was difficult for her. I was ready to get into something creative again, so this seemed like perfect timing. She found all the contractors, funded the project, and I oversaw the works on her behalf, ensuring quality control. Having the chance to be able to select the materials, and do what turned out be extensive renovations - we pulled the whole back of the house off, and completely remodeled and extended the kitchen into what was a lovely garden space. I thought it was quite hilarious that she would agree to do this. Slowly, I then started to get approached, initially by my real estate agent, who had seen the transformation. Although I was still committed to being a full-time mom, the wheels started churning in my mind and I could see there was an opportunity in Singapore to take this further. Cocoon

As someone who wants to create the perfect nest, I was surprised by the way expats were decorating their homes, especially for those renting and facing restrictions at times from landlords. Many didn’t know how long they would be here 40 LIVING IN SINGAPORE

three years ago.

On a positive note, having the opportunity

sustainable materials where we can.

Denise, coming from a corporate PR and

How important do you think diversity, equality and inclusiveness is in society and the workplace? Why do you think so?

weekends, holidays, and evenings spent

This is so important! Your ability to

seems the best way to go. Be prepared

include people from all nationalities,

to sacrifice your personal time. The time

ages, and backgrounds in your business

it takes to always keep all the balls in

here in Singapore is the only way

the air is something most people don’t

to succeed.

realize initially. This is especially true if

if you are serious about success. So, choosing to turn something you love into something that is financially lucrative

you start off solo, as I did. Learn to create As someone who is 50 years old now,

boundaries and stick to them, make

working with younger people helps to

clear decisions about your availability

keep your perspective in check. What are

to clients, the business, and then your

the needs of the younger generation and

personal life. This can be tricky to stick to,

upcoming trends? We also employ older

especially if you are working and living in

people as I feel the experience they offer

the same spaces, as many of us are doing

is priceless. They have great attention

now. These lines can easily get blurred

to detail and patience. The diversity

very quickly and you may start to feel

of a well-planned team will allow your

that you are always at work. Therefore,

business to keep growing.

ensure to make time for yourself so you can take a full day off now and again.

What advice would you give to women interested in starting a business in Singapore?

Define your strengths. Make a list of the

Do

make a list that highlights the areas in

your

research

and

contact

professional people that can initially guide you on how to set it up correctly.

The laws are changing all the time, so ensuring you are well informed and armed with the latest legal requirements before you start is important. I often hear the most successful businesses are based on passion. You need to love what

things you are good at and enjoy. Then which you will need help in. For me, that was administration and technical skills that I lacked. I outsourced help in these areas, and this really paid off. Don’t put additional pressure on yourself. Recognize where you need help and reach out.

Most, importantly don’t give up! Believe in yourself!

you do. There will be a lot of hard work, LIVING IN SINGAPORE 41

Q&A Sasha Conlan

S

asha is the owner of Sasha’s Fine Foods, an online grocer.

Tell us a little bit about your background and business.

How and why did you decide to start a business in Singapore?

something that has become even more

I am a food-loving mother of three who

I was frustrated by the lack of good quality

am overjoyed to be able to support it.

relocated to Singapore from London with

meat and fish produce in Singapore

my husband and kids back in 2008. I was

and the lack of transparency of where

a lawyer by profession, but a foodie at

it came from and what was in it. Back in

heart, so when I saw a prime opportunity

2008, there were also no online delivery

to bring together my passion for cooking

grocers in Singapore. SFF was the first!

and eating with the growing demand

Food is deeply personal and hands-on for

for “cleaner” food in Singapore, I took it

me, hence I began a journey of sourcing

upon myself to set up Sasha’s Fine Foods

and importing top quality, ethically

(SFF) in 2010.

sourced and fully sustainable produce.

relevant during the pandemic, and I This really shows the relevance of SFF 12 years on and has allowed us to keep striving to better ourselves. For instance, we now have Singapore’s first carbon neutral grocery delivery fleet and are also members of the United Nations Carbon Pricing Leadership Coalition (CPLC) and Singapore’s F&B Sustainability Council.

Sasha’s Fine Foods is Singapore’s first

farmers and their produce, reinstating my

What were some of the challenges you faced along the way?

online grocer that is positioned as both

trust in the food I was feeding my family

The challenges are almost too many

premium and ethical, selling high-quality

and gaining complete confidence in what

to mention! Flights get canceled, our

sustainable groceries to households

I am selling.

suppliers send the wrong products, food

The process brought me closer to the

regulators unexpectedly take produce

and restaurants across Singapore. We source food as close to its natural state

What started off as a weekly pick up

for inspection, drivers get sick, trucks

as

from Changi in my car to then deliver

break down...the list is endless. However,

who can satisfy in-depth questions

to

blossomed

years of experience have of course

on farming and working standards so

into a thriving online, ethical grocer.

given me great insight and enabled me

that our customers can make informed

My commitment to our customers to

to find solutions. For example, ensuring

decisions about their food. From day

provide the best food the world has to

all products are transported and stored

one, I made it my mission to visit our

offer has been unwavering, and while

at correct temperatures is extremely

suppliers to witness their sustainable-

the company has grown so much, these

challenging in a tropical environment,

farming practices first-hand and sample

values remain unchanged. Not only

so we now have customized trucks

their products before committing to

have we grown in size, but we have also

which

them as a supplier. With COVID-19, we

grown in terms of our range, quality

freezer compartments.

have pivoted to virtual farm visits, but

and values. SFF now has an expanded

our commitment to sourcing for the very

range of over 600 high quality, carefully

Additionally, there are also personal

best food remains. We are still providing

sourced and nasties-free products. We

challenges worth mentioning. As a

food-savvy shoppers in Singapore the

are also steadfast on supporting the

woman in a food industry that is largely

convenience of shopping for tasty and

“small guys” and have greatly increased

male-dominated, I have found myself

high-quality groceries that they can get

our range of high-quality goods from

occasionally being thrown curveballs, but

delivered on the same day by people

Singaporean producers.

I have always found solutions and over

possible

from

trusted

suppliers

customers

has

now

both

refrigerated

and

the years, my confidence has grown. This

who care.

42 LIVING IN SINGAPORE

have

The growth of SFF tells me that we have

confidence comes in part from my strong

a generation that are more interested in

belief in what I am doing; feeding our

knowing where their food comes from,

families clean top quality food, looking

community – you will feel empowered to

in their communities. These are all values

What advice would you give to women interested in starting a business in Singapore?

that I cherish, and I have them in mind

Ultimately, a business must be purposeful

you need to sustain it. Matching the

after our planet, supporting companies who treat their staff well and who invest

every time I face a new challenge.

to you. If you are just in it for the money, it is easy to give it up for another business

make it succeed. Believing in your vision and business then creates the excitement quality of our produce with the quality of our service has always been a pillar of Sasha’s Fine Foods, and I am always

How important do you think diversity, equality and inclusiveness is in society and the workplace? Why do you think so?

or job. Having a passion that you can

I’m really proud of SFF’s record of

still am) guided by a simple philosophy:

diversity and inclusion. It makes the sum

helping

of the parts much greater than the whole

the importance of where our food

and helps to avoid groupthink - in both

comes from.

they are adding value to their clients, I

I’m proud that our office team is 70%

When you believe in the purpose of your

sharing how their business can add value

female, we come from seven different

business – for me, that is serving the

channel the drive and motivation into is super important as well. Personally, SFF is where it is today because I was (and our

community

understand

business and in the wider community.

excited to know that we have given our customers the ability to shop with confidence. There are women who may perhaps lack the confidence to market their businesses because they hate selling, but when they truly believe that believe they will feel passionate about for them.

countries, and we are flagged as LGBTQ+ friendly on our Google listing. That said, I am also mindful that inclusivity isn’t about statistics, and is a continual journey of learning and improvement.

Having these values embedded in our actions and communication have a more lasting impact than we can ever imagine, especially as a business building longterm relationships with international suppliers, some of whom come from backgrounds with little to no privilege.

It is important that we embed these values in our actions and ensure that they extend beyond our team. That’s why we partner with farmers, fishermen and producers from underprivileged backgrounds - such as Re-Foods, who work to make the women and girls in their cashew farming cooperatives safe, by doing things like installing street lighting in their villages in Vietnam.

We also practice inclusivity closer to home. Our vans are washed by those with learning challenges, and we ensure that any food that is close to running out of life is given to care homes, nursing homes and those who aren’t as included in Singaporean-life as they perhaps could be - those in dormitories, for example.

We must all be champions of diversity and inclusivity. We have come so far in that struggle to not remain vigilant.

LIVING IN SINGAPORE 43

Q&A Dr. May Ooi

Capoeira Kids

M

ay is a former Olympian in swimming, and the owner of Capoeira Kids, a martial arts school.

Tell us a little bit about your background and business.

self-defense,

folklore dances. It’s a great channel

What were some of the challenges you faced along the way?

I was born and raised in Singapore,

to help kids build resilience, grit, and

There were loads of challenges. I

but spent 16 years of my life in the US and Europe. My childhood revolved around a competitive swimming career

acrobatic,

music,

and

delayed gratification while having fun in Capoeira class.

switched from a respectable and stable career to a start a martial arts school.

Capoeira was relatively unknown then

including the 1992 Olympic Games,

How and why did you decide to start a business in Singapore?

1994 Commonwealth Games, 1990 and

Singapore is home. Although I spent

condos, community centers, international

1994 Asian Games and SEA Games from

years outside this sunny island, I always

schools, and rented space by the hour at

1989 to 1997.

knew I would come back to take care of

a dance studio. I borrowed $20,000 from

my mom. I started the Capoeira school

my mom and we rented our own space

competitive

because I wanted to create a lifestyle

at Horse City. We are still there. It’s been

swimming at the “ripe old age” of 24,

that allowed me to take care of my

14 years.

I went to medical school in Europe

physical health and,

and graduated as a medical doctor.

more

importantly,

Somewhere along the medical journey,

have

complete

I found Capoeira and other martial arts

autonomy

like Brazilian jiu-jitsu, boxing, Muay Thai,

time. Working in the

judo and wrestling. That snowballed

medical

into a Capoeira school for children and

in Singapore didn’t

a professional MMA career with some of

give me that option. I

the most prestigious organizations in the

had to make a choice

world, like ONE Championship and World

based on my values

Series of Fighting.

and a vision only few

that took me to all the major games

After

retirement

from

of

my

industry

could understand.

Although I retired from elite competition, I’m still very much involved in the sport

Starting a business

scene of Singapore. I currently serve as

in

Vice President of the Singapore JuJitsu

easy. It only takes

Association and Vice Chairwoman of

a few clicks on the

Women in Sport Committee under the

computer

Singapore National Olympic Council.

registered

Singapore

is

to

get with

ACRA as a business Capoeira Kids started as a passion

entity.

project that morphed into a mission of

that

“Grooming Leaders Through Sports.” We

successful business

work with children from 3-12 years old,

is something else.

teens and adults. Capoeira is a Brazilian martial art and art form that incorporates

44 LIVING IN SINGAPORE

Growing entity

to

a

and it was an uphill task to kick off the business. We started classes at local

In the beginning, we made just enough to pay rent, utilities and whatever overhead that came with running the school. I didn’t take a salary for ages! I remember sleeping in the gym a couple of nights a week for two years because the travel time from Horse City to my mom’s was well over an hour and I had to teach early morning classes (Sixth Avenue MRT did not exist back then!).

As classes became busy and we got more popular, we worked pretty much every day with no rest days. We worked right through public holidays, too! I was teaching, working the reception, doing the administration, managing the parents, and cleaning the gym every day.

It was exhausting and, on top of it all, we were dead broke.

How important do you think diversity, equality and inclusiveness is in society and the workplace? Why do you think so?

everything. Women, men, and children activities and everyone plays a role. It’s

What advice would you give to women interested in starting a business in Singapore?

like a big village where everyone can

Starting a business is like running a

are all encouraged to participate in the

contribute to the best of their abilities.

My position on equality and inclusiveness in the workplace draws from the lessons learned in Capoeira. Everyone has the

Singapore is a melting pot of cultures.

ability to contribute in the workplace.

Growing up in a small country with

Sometimes we learn valuable lessons

diverse cultures, languages, religions,

and skills from those we least expect in

and customs has taught me to be more

the community. Everyone is a resource,

tolerant and understanding of the people

but it’s up to the leader to discern which

I work with.

resources can be drawn upon at an

marathon. There will be bumps and detours. Surround yourself with positive and supportive people to help you get through those bumps. Having a mentor to guide you helps a lot especially if you are starting a business for the first time.

Most importantly, enjoy the journey.

appropriate time.

One of the reasons I’m drawn to Capoeira is because the community is the heart of LIVING IN SINGAPORE 45

Q&A Jennifer Yarbrough

J

ennifer is the owner of White Glove, an employment agency.

Tell us a little bit about your background and business.

example, I had a hard time remembering

have the skills and experience our clients

which worker had which skills and kept

are looking for in a helper. Every client

My background is in law, and I am an

shuffling paper around and re-reading

and every applicant is different. There

their biodatas. Finally, I decided to put

is no one size fits all and we choose not

their answers in a searchable database

to limit ourselves to one profile.

to help me. Now, I can search based on

toughest part in being inclusive and

skills, which has been a tremendous

diverse has been in educating clients

help to me. In the beginning, I took a

and domestic workers that may have

course, and WhatsApped someone at the

their own narrow ideas about what they

Association for Employment Agencies

are looking for and teaching them that

with my dozens of questions. I am sure

people are people regardless of their

I annoyed him to no end! However, he

backgrounds. You will find good people

patiently answered all of my questions.

and bad people in every culture and it is

I also called MOM several times a day in

best to take each individual as a person

the beginning! Both were great resources

rather than a profile that may or may not

to me.

meet your prior expectations.

How important do you think diversity, equality and inclusiveness is in society and the workplace? Why do you think so?

What advice would you give to women interested in starting a business in Singapore?

I

and

starting a business in Singapore to

inclusiveness is important and as a

do your homework first, follow your

business it has been very important

heart, and choose something that really

to our success. From the beginning, I

interests you. It’s easier to be passionate

decided to make sure all applicants were

when you have a keen interest to begin

considered fairly, and hired people based

with. Being a business owner will take

on their personalities and merit. With our

over your life, so you’d better love it!

attorney in the US. I also have experience in

technology

development,

training as

well

and as

course

customer

service. I own an employment agency in Singapore that specializes in foreign domestic

workers

for

families

and

employment passes for companies.

How and why did you decide to start a business in Singapore?

I decided to start a business in Singapore because I kept running into the same problem when I was trying to hire a domestic worker myself. Nobody would listen to my requirements and I seemed to be at the mercy of whomever showed up for interviews that day in their office. I thought there must be a better way. I also felt like my needs as an expat weren’t being addressed very well by the market and the agencies I dealt with personally.

I did several months of research and just decided to go for it.

What were some of the challenges you faced along the way?

It was quite a learning experience in the beginning and there wasn’t much available to teach me how to do this job, so I spent a lot of time researching answers and trying to come up with technological solutions to the problems I faced. For

46 LIVING IN SINGAPORE

think

diversity,

equality

clients and applicants this has served us very well, because we usually have someone on staff who is familiar with certain customs and requirements that our clients may have. With our applicants, we don’t limit ourselves to any particular nationality. We take workers from any approved source country as long as they

The

I would advise anyone interested in

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LIVING IN SINGAPORE 47

The Ambassador in All of Us

By John S. Hamalian

I was making my way through the perpetually bustling Shanghai Metro subway system when I spotted an elderly woman struggling to carry a heavy shopping bag up a flight of stairs in an area with no escalator. I gestured to her that I wanted to help. She smiled and let me take her bag upwards. At the top of the staircase I gave it back to her, as she asked me “Nǐ láizì năge guójiā?” (“Which country are you from?”). I replied in my scant Chinese, “Měiguó” (“America”). She grinned broadly and said in Mandarin, “Americans are always so polite.” It really made my day. It was an honor to help this nice lady and also be able to somehow represent my home country. At that particular place, at that specific moment, I was the “ambassador” of over 300 million people.

When we go to another city, we are ambassadors of our hometown. When we go to another state, we are ambassadors of our home state, and when we go to another country, we are ambassadors of our nation. We may be just one of hundreds, thousands or even millions of our countryfolk to visit a certain place, but one’s personal interactions with locals can have an enormous impact on how they perceive our homeland.

In my journeys to over 70 countries, I have been to faraway lands where I have met local villagers in isolated regions, perhaps very well being the only person from America that they have ever met – or will ever meet – in their lives. I singlehandedly could influence a person’s view of a whole nation, an entire people. I am an emissary. I am a Ambassadors do not only exist in state representative. I am an ambassador. departments, embassies and the United It is an enormous responsibility - and one that I Nations. We are all ambassadors. Ambassadors take very seriously. of ourselves, our families, our communities, our nations, and perhaps most importantly, of humanity.

John is a US citizen and an avid explorer with a passion for travel journalism and photography. He has visited more than 65 countries, including the entire Far East of Asia. He has written for The Straits Times, Shanghai Daily, The Armenian Mirror-Spectator, My Paper, The American Women’s Club of Korea and the in-flight magazine of Royal Bhutan Airlines.

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The Road Less Traveled Lily Ong takes us on a tour of little-known Tiraspol, the capital city of the unrecognized state of Transnistria.

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Wirestock - stock.adobe.com

An unrecognized breakaway state, Transnistria lies on a contested sliver of land between the Dniester River and the Moldovan-Ukrainian border. The Transnistria War, which unfolded from 1990 to 1992, witnessed a bloody battle between the Transnistrian separatists on one hand and Moldova on the other.

The land today, however, serves up a serene landscape with its own government, currency, military, police, and Russian as its primary language.

Like the many motherdaughter trips that surface for Tess and me at the eleventh hour, our journey this past Christmas to Tiraspol, the capital city of Transnistria, was unanticipated. However, after five days in Chisinau, the capital of Moldova, we were grateful for the change. In one and a

nice place, is it not?” To which the agent contentedly smiled before inquiring of our nights of Unlike the experience of stay and granting us the green visitors who have complained light to proceed. of the long and cumbersome immigration process, ours was blessedly smooth.

At the checkpoint, a Russianspeaking lady adorned with thick eyelashes gazed upon us with curious eyes. She took our passports and flashed them to her colleague as both agents exclaimed to their first sight of Singapore passports. We didn’t really know what to say when she asked - with the most baffled look about our choice to visit Transnistria. I casually responded with, “It’s a half swift hours, our hired driver transported us to the border.

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Dusk came early in the form of an early sunset. We ventured to the city center lying no more than 100 meters from us. Our first mission was to locate a money exchange so that we could use the only currency accepted in the territory, Transnistrian rubles.

Foreign credit cards and ATM cards do not function here.

Photo by Yuriy Vinnicov on Unsplash.

The equidistant trees that lined the curbs of Tiraspol reminded us of Singapore for how orderly the configuration looked. Absent of litter, the clean streets complemented the glistening snow with their concrete sparkle. As we passed a government building, a giant statue of Lenin, looking rather stern, greeted us.

Although the Orthodox Christmas would not be for a couple more weeks, brightly garlanded Christmas trees were seen glowing on the streets and in stores. Hard to miss too was the frigid cold working to immobilize us at negative 17 degrees Celsius. Fortunately, we were adequately bundled up, so despite the icy temperature, managed reasonably with heat packs pressed tightly against our palms.

The center strip was fronted by luxurious In our endeavor to experience the town on a European brands in the likes of Trussardi and deeper level, we elected to stay at a Soviet- Prada. We passed them with little interest but era apartment. These are low-rise concrete our eyes were caught by an ice cream signboard blocks of sturdy brickwork built in the Soviet strategically placed outside a café instead. A days. While their older version was referred to frosty cone in the arctic cold might not be the by the derogatory nickname of Khrushchyovka, the upgraded type, equipped with modern amenities like heating systems and elevators, are known as Brezhnevkas. Regardless of their version, Anglo countries refer to them as “commieblocks,” a slang term they would also apply in mockery to any cookie-cutter apartments looking rigid in appearance regardless of their international location.

Arriving at our address, we saw a smiling lady decked in a gold jacket and a silver bobble hat.

The lovely Inna led us into our apartment to render us a tour, but my eyes and ears were drawn to the familiar face and voice on TV belonging to none other than Russian President Vladimir Putin. As unplanned as our trip to Tiraspol, were the next four hours I spent cemented to his annual marathon press conference in the Soviet living room.

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thing we craved, but we were thankful we entered One couldn’t help but take in the fragrance of real the café, for decadent snack offerings of varied Christmas trees as we entered the compound.

Vendors were selling a plethora of food, notably kinds welcomed us. dried fruits, nuts, fresh fruits, and vegetables.

We settled on a sausage wrapped in pancake I didn’t think I’d ever encountered this many and what resembled a crepe, but in the shape varieties of raisins in my life! A seller held up a of a giant cone encasing a heavy load of banana bowl of prunes to my nose and beckoned for me slices, kiwi cubes, and fresh cream so fluffy we to smell it. I didn’t have to get too near to get could have floated upon it. We chatted up the a whiff of the strong alcohol. Prunes soaked in lovely waitress, Yulia, and inquired of sites and whiskey! Why hadn’t I thought of that before? attractions. To our surprise, not only did she We then headed to the butchery section where suggest some tips, but she also offered to take us around town the following day! Her kind cheese and honeycombs were peddled alongside proposal was agreed to with little resistance and chicken, mutton, and beef. We took up Yulia’s suggestion to try the local cheese and found it much gratitude. to be distinctively different, intriguingly mushy.

Exiting the store, we observed how the Unlike some of the tasting experience back temperature had taken quite a dip. We walked home, we sensed that the vendor was not at all briskly to the tram stop, boarded a tram that cost disgruntled about us savoring her cheese even two rubles, and noted how quickly an elderly lady though we didn’t end up purchasing any. shifted inwards to offer us some sitting space.

After our trek through the Green Market, we We didn’t really know where the tram was taking us, but we didn’t really care. We just wanted to wandered towards Victory Park, where the statue do what most of the locals do – travel on foot of a proud and victorious Alexander Suvorov, the founder of Tiraspol credited for his triumphs in and trams. the Russo-Turkish wars of 1781-1792, could be In meeting up with Yulia around noon the seen perched at an extraordinary height upon his next day, we were delighted to meet her friend horse. The statue was so lifelike one could almost whom she had brought along. Like Yulia, Olga is imagine his horse neighing. a university student. The first place they took us was the local market known as the Green Market.

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As we strolled across the park, rows of soldiers, looking young, proud, and patriotic, marched us by. Yulia explained these were teenagers who had elected to drop out of school and opted for a lifelong career in the army instead. What we saw and heard rendered a distinct contrast to media reports on the forceful recruitments of these teens.

We next came upon the Memorial of Glory complex, where immaculately arranged graves of those who perished in earlier wars laid beneath a thick layer of snow. A fire, known as the Eternal Flame, was kept burning as a tribute to them. Tess gently brushed the snow off a plaque to see whose grave it belonged to, only to see on the cold slab of stone a nameless, carved face. Yulia shared that while the soldier’s bodies were discovered after the war, their identities were

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church with gleaming golden domes from a distance. Entering its front gate, we spotted an old lady busily raking up snow and pushing it into a pile for whom we assumed to be her grandson. Tess asked to help with raking and proceeded to do so after I gave my approving Yulia and Olga could not have nod. The boy, who looked to be ended our tour better by taking around Tess’ age, gestured for us to a local restaurant. The her to help him with building his servers there were dressed in snow castle instead. Intuitively, folk costumes and everything I took over the raking duty and on the menu was homegrown there we were, raking snow and fare. Being huge fans of fish, building castles methodically as we ordered locally caught a four-person team. seabream fried to a crisp, Unbeknownst to us, the elderly but which challenged us with bothersome bones at every woman and the young boy bite. The local version of our bao belonged to a family of church (bun) was a bit too starchy for workers. Seeing us, the father of our liking, but more important the young boy invited us to have than liking everything, was lunch with them, but not before appreciating everything that apologizing for the lack of meat as they were fasting. Tess and I was served before us. were overjoyed at the invitation We didn’t have the company as we had been hoping to visit of Yulia and Olga the a local home. The kind man led following day, but us into a building next to the since it was a Sunday, chapel and down through a we went in search of warm basement. Two culinary a church. It wasn’t staff could be seen chopping difficult to find one and cooking away as we walked as we caught sight of past the kitchen. If we weren’t a towering Orthodox never known, hence the lack of names. Gazing at the flame and the graves about, it was impossible not to feel a tinge of sadness, but above all, a deep sense of regret for the perpetual wars we humans can’t seem to detach ourselves from.

hungry before, we were now as the aroma of freshly cooked food traveled liberally through the air. We sat at a very long table meant for 20 where a picture of Jesus and His disciples at the Last Supper hung above us. I don’t think we had ever felt more at home in a foreign land.

The cooks soon brought us hot soup, soft bread, and scrumptious nuggets that tasted nothing like the ones we have had at fast food chains. I assumed they were plant based since the family was fasting, but found out afterwards they were fish nuggets. I suppose the cold-blooded fish did not factor among their foods of abstinence.

We sat, talked, and laughed heartily through the simple, but delightful, meal as the children quizzed each other giddily and inquisitively on their respective countries.

Cathedral of the Nativity

Bidding Tiraspol farewell the next morning was a bittersweet moment. For this holiday season, our Christmas clearly did not come wrapped in ribbon-laced presents under a glittery tree.

Instead, we found in the people of Tiraspol the spirit of everyday Christmas. Years of wars have mercifully failed in hardening their hearts, for whom we had the fortuity of meeting, were the kindest souls who spontaneously abandoned all reservations to welcome us into their conversations and around their family meals.

Transnistria may have on a dust jacket as old as her Soviet-era low-rise blocks of traditional masonry, but her people emit an unmistakable sense of peace, joy, and contentment that leaves her foreign visitors departing with envy and hope.

Photos courtesy of Lily Ong, except where otherwise noted.

Former residents of America, but currently based in Singapore, Lily and her daughter, Tess, traverse the world regularly as a mother-daughter team. Lily is involved in media and diplomacy while Tess is a kindergartner and the only one known to study the safety instruction cards before every flight.

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Women Founders Achieve More, and Investors Miss Out

By Richard Hartung

While only about six percent of startups in the United States have a female founder, and only about another 12% have a woman as a co-founder, according to PitchBook, startups founded by women outperform the market in terms of exit value increases and the time it takes to exit. Because businesses founded by women ultimately deliver more than twice as much revenue per dollar invested than those founded by men, consulting firm BCG observed, women-owned companies make better investments for financial backers. Reinforcing the results on a more anecdotal basis, a study by venture capital (VC) firm First Round, of 300 companies it invested in over the past ten years, showed that investments in companies

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with a female founder performed 63% better than investments with all-male founding teams.

Despite the far better performance of startups led by women, investors are missing out.

Indeed, only 2.3% of funding from VCs in the US go to startups led by women. More broadly, BCG found that investments in companies founded or co-founded by women averaged US$935,000, which is less than half the average of US$2.1 million invested in companies founded by men.

In other countries as well, women face similar barriers. In India, for example, a 2020 report by Initiative for What Works to Advance

Women and Girls in the Economy said that only seven percent of entrepreneurs are women. In Australia, according to Startup Daily, just 22% of startups are all-women-led, female founders face significant challenges in getting access to funds and female founders receive far less investment than male founders. And here in Southeast Asia, DealStreetAsia found that just 17% of startups were founded by a woman and start-ups with exclusively women founders garnered just 0.9% of total capital raised in the region.

A key cause of the lack of funding may well be the paucity of women in leadership roles at the VCs, which make the larger investments in startups. Research by PitchBook showed that 65% of VC firms in the US still have zero female partners or general partners; Deloitte found that women make up only 11% of VC deciders; and Fortune noted that these decision-makers invested 86% of their capital in all-male teams.

Research led by London Business School assistant professor Dana Kanze even showed that venture capitalists posed different types of questions to male and female entrepreneurs, asking men “promotion” questions about the potential for gains and achievements while asking women “prevention” questions about safety and the potential for losses.

Entrepreneurs who fielded mostly prevention questions went on to raise US$2.3 million for their startups, about one-seventh of the US$16.8 million raised by entrepreneurs who were asked mostly promotion questions.

The impact of the lack female founders and funding for their startups is huge. Analysis by BCG showed that global GDP could rise by approximately three percent to six percent, boosting the global economy by US$2.5 trillion to US$5 trillion, if women and men participated equally as entrepreneurs.

The solution seems straightforward. VCs clearly need to increase both the number of women who are partners and the amounts they invest in firms led by women. And that shift to support women better would be highly beneficial. “When US VC firms increased the proportion of female partners,” WestRiver Group managing director Lisa Stone told TechCrunch, “they benefited with 9.7% more profitable exits and a 1.5% spike in overall fund returns annually.” Data from All Raise and PitchBook similarly showed that 69.2% of US VCs that were in the top quartile of fund performance between 2009 and 2018 had women in decision-making roles. Private equity and angel investors could similarly benefit by funding more women.

Overcoming current mindsets and increasing the number of women in leadership roles at VCs may well be difficult. Firms need to change, though, and they will most likely continue to underperform until they do. VCs such as First Round that invest more than average in women-founded startups, on the other hand, are likely to be true winners. VCs should make the shift.

Richard is the Managing Director of Transcarta and a freelance writer for Today, Challenge, The Asian Banker and other media, as well as corporate clients. He is also the author of Changing Lanes, Changing Lives. Richard is a consultant in retail banking, focusing on payments strategy and efficiency, with more than 20 years of experience in Asia.

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Time For Taxes CPS Family Office, offering services in US tax compliance and international taxes, shares need-to-know information on US taxes ahead of the 2022 filing season.

The New Year is upon us, and while most of us welcome and look forward to the year ahead, a new year also means that we need to start thinking about filing our US taxes. This year the filing and payment due dates for individuals are as follows: April 18th – Initial due date (for those residing in the US) June 15th – Due date for individuals who reside overseas on April 18th

exclusion. You qualify for this if you have foreign earned income and meet either a residency or presence test. If you qualify for the full exclusion, each taxpayer will be able to exclude from tax up to $108,700 of their earned income.

This includes self-employment income as well, but self-employment taxes still apply on the full amount of any net earnings from self-employment.

An additional housing exclusion is allowed for housing expenses which includes rent and other October 15th – Extension due date for reasonable expenses. This amount is adjusted those filing a request for extension each year, and specifically for certain major cities Interest for any taxes due begins to accrue such as Singapore where the cost of living is from April 18th, while penalties for late filing and generally high. The amount of housing expenses late payment apply from June 15th (for expats). cannot exceed an annually prescribed amount Technically, all tax due should have been paid in ($84,100 for Singapore). advance via quarterly estimated payments.

It is important to note that claiming the foreign earned income and/or housing exclusions Foreign Earned Income and requires an adjustment to any associated foreign Housing Exclusion tax credits that you claim on your return.

One of our favorite tax breaks for living overseas is the foreign earned income and housing

assets themselves or using them to pay for items or services, creates a taxable event. Receipt of Taxpayers who don’t itemize deductions may virtual currencies for compensation, bonuses, qualify to take a charitable deduction of up to consulting fees, or in exchange for payment, is $300 (or $600 for married taxpayers filing jointly) also taxable. for cash contributions made in 2021 to qualifying organizations (it is important to note that these Reporting Foreign Assets are generally never foreign charities).

Many of us are familiar with FinCen Form 114 (commonly known as the “FBAR”) which requires Advanced Child Tax Credits you to disclose all non-US bank and financial Among other changes, the child tax credit for accounts if the combined value of those accounts 2021 was increased from $2,000 per child to as is over US$10,000 at any time during the year. much as $3,600 per child for some taxpayers.

This filing requirement also includes any account Part of these tax credits have already been which you have signature authority over, such paid out in advance to those who qualified as a company account, even if you do not have for advanced payments. If you did receive any a financial interest in this account. This form is advance payments, you will need to determine due at the same time as your individual return, if some portion should be repaid or if you are including extensions. entitled to additional credits.

If you have significant balances in your foreign bank or financial accounts, there is also a similar Virtual / Crypto Currencies Form 8938 which requires you to report the Investment in the virtual currencies (and crypto financial accounts you own as well as other assets in general) is becoming increasingly assets, such as stocks or bonds issued by a popular. Like any other property, buying and foreign companies and CPF. selling virtual currencies has tax implications. The IRS now requires that each taxpayer indicate if For a more in-depth look at US taxes and they have purchased or sold any virtual currencies updates for the 2022 filing season, join us during the year, highlighting their attention on this for a virtual session on February 8, 2022. emerging market.

Sign up here.

Virtual currency that has an equivalent value in real currency, or that acts as a substitute for real currency, is referred to as “convertible” virtual currency. Bitcoin is one example of a convertible virtual currency, which can be purchased for, or exchanged into, US dollars, Euros, and other real or virtual currencies.

Charitable Deductions

Realizing gains, whether by buying or selling these

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Working From Home?

Here’s how to level up your remote work.

By Sara Madera

Thanks to COVID-19, we’ve all been working from home quite a while—and it seems likely to continue for the foreseeable future. Regardless of whether you like it or loathe it, we could all use a few tips to ensure we are making the most of the experience to master our time at home.

Level Up Your Schedule By this point in the pandemic, I’ll bet you have a routine that works for you day-to-day. But are you accomplishing all you want to, or are you still fighting fires at work and at home? By taking a few minutes to evaluate your goals and what you’d like to accomplish on a weekly basis, you can move the needle on those larger projects.

Plan out the tasks, and also plan out the other elements to ensure this can happen. For an hour of quiet time to write, you may need to order lunch in that day or ensure the kids are occupied with an activity. By taking the time to be thoughtful about your priorities and plan around them, you’ll be publishing that book or accepting a promotion within the year!

to try something new and out of the ordinary.

Whether it’s trying a new recipe, learning to play a new sport, or exploring a new part of town, the change of pace will help the weekend to be restorative again.

Level Up Your Work Connections One disadvantage of remote work is the lack of opportunities to network with your colleagues.

Sure, there are Zoom coffees or drinks, but who wants to spend more time on the same video conferencing platform after a full day of meetings? If you want to create a bit of social time with your colleagues, perhaps try a different platform. Maybe someone can give a Facebook Live presentation in a private group, or the team learns a trick on Instagram, or maybe you give Bunch.live a go. Maybe you join a CareerSource activity. The opportunity to learn something new might give your colleagues a spark of fun and creativity!

Remote work can feel endless and tiring, but remember that you’ve been successfully managing it for nearly two years and you can Level Up Your Weekends handle a few more months. Any routine, even When you are working from home, it’s tough going to the office, can feel monotonous, so be to make the weekends feel different from the sure to shake it up as needed. Check in with weekdays while spending all of your time within yourself and your goals to see how you can the same walls. One idea is to create a loose continue to level up your remote work life. schedule for weekends, too, with home-based activities that can create a little excitement.

Looking for clarity on your goals? Connect When the restrictions were really tight, my family with Sara, a career coach for working moms, had themed weekends with games, snacks, and at sara@plancreatively.com. movies around a certain subject, like sciencefiction or nature, which gave us all something to look forward to. Alternatively, it’s a great time LIVING IN SINGAPORE 61

Bridging the Political Divide Life back home is complicated. People seem so angry and divided. So how then do you bridge the divide with family and friends who don’t see eye to eye with you? Living in Singapore writer MARC SERVOS has a few suggestions.

How do you deal talk about political topics with others and keep it civil?

Our views on particular issues, solutions and challenges are not perfect. Pros and cons usually come into play when deciding what view to take on a particular issue and how to handle it, which is where the gray area comes in.

Even within gray areas, most people prefer seeing things as right or wrong. We recognize the imperfections, but there are absolutes as well. Murder is wrong, as an example, but we don’t always agree on whether or not certain acts of homicide (think of self-defense) would be defined as being absolutely wrong despite the unfortunate situations of loss of life.

Interaction with those who hold other viewpoints can easily go awry, considering the way in which politics back home has been dividing the country. Here are a few tips on how to communicate with others to avoid getting into a heated discussion. Choosing the right words can change the mood of the conversation for the better. This may not work in discussions with strangers on social media, but could be practiced when talking to people you know, especially in person.

2. Don’t assume everyone you know thinks the same way you do. We all know others in our circles who have different views.

1. Different political views are part of a continuum spectrum. Remember, there are gray areas. And different views are usually not 180 degrees opposites.

Your family member, friend, colleague, or acquaintance just may have different views from what you believe, so don’t be surprised about things they say. You may see the world one way, but others see it differently. One isn’t necessarily right and the other wrong.

Political views are often placed on a left-right horizontal spectrum, but truth is, views are generally approached from different angles, rather than from polar opposites. Bear in mind that opinions are not always black or white, as many are in gray areas.

This principle may be well understood generally, but I’m sure everyone has had experiences where you were

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Similarly, there are also gray areas when it comes to political views.

surprised to learn of another’s views on a particular subject.

3. Try not to sound confrontational or imposing. Choosing your words thoughtfully when expressing your views could make a difference in the mood of the conversation.

I’ve heard supposedly mature adults use snarky remarks with these common choices of words: “You like <name of public figure>? Or “I don’t know why/what...” Those phrases not only sound confrontational, but they also show a lack of substance, expressing more of disgust than surprise. These seemingly harmless statements tend to antagonize.

Public figures attract polarizing judgments, whether or not they actually deserve them. The same principle goes for policies. Rather than speaking in a manner that you appear to assume the listener would agree with, use carefully chosen language. Phrases such as “I don’t know how you feel...” or “You may feel differently” can soften the conversation, reducing the likelihood of an argumentative response.

4. Avoid labeling and name-calling. The common slurs aren’t valid most of the time anyway.

Labeling and name-calling has been all too common.

Without spelling out the usual slurs flowing from all sides, not only are they inaccurate for the most part, but their use discredits the individuals using them and also gives an abysmal impression on the bigger group.

5. More on choosing your words carefully.

Many questions may begin with, “Why do you....” The use of the word “why” often has a critical connotation, especially in discussions in politics. People usually have valid reasons for taking a particular stance on an issue. Try using, “Could you tell me what you feel about...” or “I’d like to know what the liberal/conservative view is on <particular issue>.” This shows more respect to what the other person may feel, which could be reciprocated.

You can also ask somebody to gently explain their position. Listen thoughtfully and try to understand their viewpoint. You may not agree, but you may also learn

Americans have successfully addressed many problems and made necessary changes throughout the country’s history. You may not totally agree with some common views on your own side and you might also give some credit to the other side about certain continuous issues. Despite general consensus that does exist, division largely exists on how to handle them, and we should consider what is more important: solving a problem or subduing the “other side.”

7. Healthy discussion and disagreement is as American as it gets.

After our nation’s 1776 Independence was secured with the Treaty of Paris in 1783 (officially ending the American Revolution), our Founding Fathers went through much debate on figuring out what kind of country the United States of America would be. Drafting of the Constitution of the United States involved much heated discussion. It was not even very popular among the people at first, and it took a few years for the original thirteen states to ratify what we see today as a sacred document. Political parties evolved during the administration of George Washington, but Washington himself warned of factions in his Farewell Address.

Division is a reflection of human nature as we are all unique individuals, an oversimplification that lays out the basics of just why people are not perfectly united. We as Americans need to remember we are lucky that we can openly discuss our views and disagree with those in power.

But the key is to do this without violence or inciting hatred.

Conclusion The tips presented likely won’t mend the wounds of our division. Rather, they are offered to help facilitate civil, and perhaps interesting, conversations. The hope is that speaking with civility could be small steps to help with some healing.

We need to prioritize what is really important for society and humanity, and it’s likely not our own politics. Practicing these lessons isn’t always easy. I have to admit, I struggle with all of this as well.

something surprising.

6. Those with different views actually have common ground. Try to work towards acknowledging that reality.

As much as many don’t want to admit it, those with differing views can usually find some mutual agreement and common ground. This can include views on the economy, national security, equality, law and order, and the environment, among others. In addition, common ground may also exist on social issues, even if it may be difficult to identify.

Marc Servos is a Fort Wayne native, Indiana University graduate and U.S. Army vet. He is married to a Singaporean and has been living here for a number of years and has two children, one turning 20 and the other 11. In addition to contributing to the SAN and LIS, he has also contributed to the Canada-based History Magazine.

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